Page 21 of Unbroken

Esme storms from the room, Sam hot on her heels, while Trys and Ty both usher Micah out of the room, their combined magic whirling around the three of them until they vanish from sight.

“What the fuck just happened in this room? There was so much going on I can barely follow. I hate that my Mate is being pulled in so many directions,” Lyrik growls in frustration.

“It will eventually slow down,” I reply.

“When?” he counters, and I want to play psychologist, I really do, but we have bigger problems.

“Let’s get through this ceremony first. I have a feeling that shit will only get worse from here.” I blow out a breath, at least my words seem to have calmed Lyrik down.

“They have no idea what being his heirs will mean for them, do they?” He asks, then his eyes widen as the severity of the situation hits home. “They will never take his blood if they know the truth.”

I shrug. I like the triplets, but our hands are tied. “It’s either that or they slowly go insane. Three feral beasts with way too much magic. Not even Micah’s love for them can stop the inevitable,” I reply feeling slightly helpless because it’s not like I could warn them. As Demons, we are bound by the laws of the Underworld ourselves. The truth isn’t mine to tell; Lyrik and I are magically gagged. Lucifer has to tell his sons what taking his blood entails.

“They will be bound to the Underworld forever. They have no clue that they will never be able to live on Earth permanently again,” he says solemnly.

“They’re Nephalem, maybe it will be different for them,” I say hopefully. Hey, Demons aren’t allowed to live on Earth permanently, we all have to return to the Underworld eventually, to keep our darkness at bay. But, maybe, just maybe, with the arrival of three rare hybrids things could be about to change.

ChapterTwelve

ESME

The sound of bass pumping from the other side of the heavy black doors barely muffles the sound to a low throbbing hum in my head, which is already pounding as sleep continues to elude me. Every night since she first appeared in my dreams the High Priestess has returned, haunting me, taunting me, demanding my presence, that I return to her, to take my place in the Blue Mountains. It is her own sick form of torture, sleep deprivation can break the strongest of creatures, and I am at breaking point. My only solace has been Sam, the reason why I haven’t gone mad by now. The little bit of sleep I get is after he fucks me into a coma. It’s become our routine, my addiction. He is my drug and I’m hooked. When you’re desperate, as desperate as I am. . .you’d be willing to do about anything for a dreamless sleep. I don’t know how much more of this I can take but I can’t place my burdens at Micah’s feet. I can’t.

“I thought this was a ceremony. It sounds like Club Hell No. 666 in there,” Micah says to Trys, making him chuckle. I smile at her attempt to lighten the mood.

Ty, Trys, and Rodyn have all been on edge since the invites arrived earlier today. I mean, I get it. They know nothing about Lucifer, other than what they were taught about him on Earth. Add to the fact that he is their dad and he might have some nefarious plans for them he’s not telling them about, I would be silent and brooding too. I understand their situation more than most.

Why is it so important for me to return to the Blue Mountains? I was banished. It is an attempt to use me for sure, now that I’m useful of course. I meant nothing to her, yet she insists on popping up every time I close my eyes.

I glance over at Micah. Her long braids hang loose down her back, covering the plunging backless V-shaped cut-out of her dress, leaving little to the imagination as it stops just before it reveals her ass. The black bandage-like body-con mini dress has tiny rainbow ribbon straps that show off her muscular arms and shoulders; the dress fits like a glove, wrapping around every curve of her body. She looks sexy and confident, stunning with her long, thick thighs on display, finishing it off with a pair of hot pink stilettos. I’ve never seen Micah outside her Academy uniform or yoga pants. Everyone’s tongues are hanging out of their mouths—they appreciate the view.

I opted to wear a long, teal satin maxi dress with a tulle overlay, two long splits on either side of my legs, that stop too far up my thighs, if Sam’s growl is any indication about it. But the dress is comfortable, it allows me to move freely, with tiny straps holding it all together . No heels, thank the Heavens, I am more than happy to have been given teal ballet flats. For a big burly Demon, Asher has damn good taste. The dress appeared in my closet a few hours ago, my own personal Fairy-God Demon. I doubt Micah had anything that revealing in her suitcases when she arrived at HellNight Academy. The perks of being the daughter of a former Archangel, Chaos Demon Lord. I am not going to complain, the less I need to worry about at the moment, the better and I am sure I am not the only one who feels that way. All the guys, including Sam, look as if they stepped out of GQ magazine or a Tom Ford runway show in a variety of suit jacket and pants combination that is simply mouth-watering. After being stuck inside Bishop’s home for weeks on end, we all need a chance to let our hair down.

“Who knows what the fuck you’re about to see on the other side of this door. Be prepared for anything,” Bishops says as he weaves between the group to stand in front of us. As soon as he is in place, he reaches up and places his hand on the doors. They swing open slowly and we are all bombarded with a cacophony of pumping bass and beat drops.

The noise is deafening, making my temples throb. Strobe lighting pierces my irises, making me close my eyes tight against the assault. It feels like I am in the grips of one of the worst migraines I’ve ever experienced. Nausea rolls through my stomach, yet I manage to keep my dinner down by taking deep, slow breaths.

Sensing my pain and unease, Sam wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me close, my back to his chest. At the same time, Micah emerges next to me, her fingers grab mine, entwining them together. It’s been a while since we’ve had any kind of interaction and I feel starved of it, starved of her.

“Are you okay?” she asks, her eyebrows pinched in concern as we wait for the doors to open completely. Her eyes search mine, as if she can see exactly what’s going on with me but I quickly diffuse the situation before she really starts asking questions. I squeeze her hand, reveling in the feeling of her touch.

“I’m fine.” I smile genuinely, I have really missed her, even though her room is across the hall from mine, we’ve danced around each other since her father’s memorial. She didn’t want to see me and maybe I am to blame for that. I know I put that distance there. I know she saw the Mate mark the day she woke. I know she understood because she has two Fated Mates of her own. But we are overdue a conversation about what all this means for our relationship going forward.

“I can feel your pain, Esme.” She arches her brow and points to her chest with one hand, while placing her other hand flat against my forehead. I watch Micah close her eyes, her touch soothing, healing, as a warming sensation flows through me, taking the pain away. All my pain. My eyes widen, blurring with tears as I gaze up into her eyes. She’d healed me, taken away the sick feeling in my stomach, in fact, I feel rejuvenated.

“Micah. You did it. How?” I ask, both astonished at how easily she used her healing magic, and I wonder then if it is easier for her to use it now that we are Tethered together or if it’s just the strength of her power alone. I’d been so tired I didn’t think to heal myself. You have to do better, I berate myself. Who knows when we will be facing the enemy again, I need to be ready for anything. Next time I might have to heal more than a migraine. I need to prepare.

She strokes my forehead, then lets her hand trace the side of my face until she is cupping my cheek. “I told the pain to go away, and I let the magic flow through me. It’s a new development I’ve discovered since I woke. I’m different, I feel different and using my power is as easy as giving it an intention and letting it happen.” I nod my head in understanding, I am not sure what her death did to her magic, but she is stronger, I can feel it.

Sam growls as we follow behind Bishop into a throng of people waiting to get in the door. His hold on me tightens, making Micah pull away from me with a smirk on her face.

“Samuel, if you growl at my Mate ever again, I will skin you alive and wear your pelt as a jacket.” Lyrik materializes beside him, patting him so hard on the shoulder that he winces from the pain.

“Sam.” I turn my head to look up at him, my tone admonishing as he looks down at me regretfully.

Sam holds up his hands as Ty turns slowly, one of his knives spinning in the palm of his hand. At this point I am not even surprised. I am sure they all heard Sam’s possessive growl. “Look, Micah, I am sorry. I understand your relationship with Esme; my Wolf, not so much. I am working on it,” he says, eyes pleading as he shifts his gaze from Micah to the triplets, who are eyeing him like apex predators.

“It’s fine, Sam. I get it. I do. I also know where I stand with Esme, and I am okay with that. We’ve had this discussion before.” Micah locks eyes with me and she doesn’t have to say it for me to understand. I made a choice and I chose him.

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